fun with kids Archives | NAPPA Awards

July 2, 2019 by Elena Epstein

Summer means outdoor fun and what’s better than water play! These NAPPA Award winners are perfect for hot summer days.

Baby Spring Float Splash Station

The Baby Spring Float Splash Station is a part of the SwimWays Swim Steps program, designed to provide a fun and secure first-time water experience for babies. It includes adorable whale and starfish interactive water toys that squirt and spray water. It also features a patented inner spring around the outside edge for added stability, removable sun canopy with UPF 50+ sun protection, soft mesh seat with secure leg holes and mesh sippy cup holder. $29.99, ages 9-24 months.

X-Shot Fast Fill

The X-SHOT Fast-Fill allows you to refill your blaster in 1 second and get back to the water blasting action long before your opponents. Just dunk, fill and close with rapid sealing technology. It shoots up to 30ft/10m and you can fill it anywhere, because a Fast-Fill is everything. Up Your Game this summer! $12.99, ages 5+

PAW Patrol Swim Trainer Life Jackets

The PAW Patrol Swim Trainer Life Jackets are U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices for kids. Permanent flotation in the arms and chest provide greater mobility and the out-of-reach adjustable back buckles are convenient for parents and more secure for kids. The life jackets feature soft fabric and fit most children weighing 30-50 pounds. Available in PAW Patrol 3-D Chase & Skye characters (Chase & Skye sold individually) and PAW Patrol non-3-D character graphics. $18.88-$24.99 each, fits most children weighing 30-50 pounds.

For more award winning products, visit nappaawards.com

June 26, 2019 by Elena Epstein

Summer is here and that means pool parties, barbecues, picnic at the park and beach days. To get the party started, we have these terrific portable speakers and NAPPA Award winners that are great for anytime, anywhere. Great for travel too. Dance party anyone?

My Audio Pet Splash

My Audio Pet Splash are adorable, portable and waterproof bluetooth speakers with a powerful 5 watt driver. Features a ridiculously long-lasting 1000 mAH rechargeable battery (up to 8 hours of play time), a selfie remote and True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Technology. The Hide & Speak App – The Crazy Fun Family Friendly App is included with purchase. $39.99

Jooki

Let the musical fun begin with Jooki! An adorable and smart player that lets kids choose and listen to music and stories with ToyTouch™ Technology. Kids are in control to listen, dance, imagine while music or stories play. Uploaded from a phone using the Jooki app or drag-and-drop from iTunes on a laptop. You can also choose Spotify to create the playlist. Link the Jooki characters, who will play to the playlist when placed on the Jooki speaker. $199

JBL JR POP

Kid-proof durability combined with epic sound. The JBL JR POP will be an instant favorite with kids and parents alike. With five hours of playtime, a waterproof design and JBL’s Signature Sound, the JR POP will have kids rocking out to their favorite “parent-approved” playlists from the school bus all the way through after-school activities. The best part is that this speaker is made just for kids – small enough to fit in their hands with a built-in strap for on-the-go listening. $29.95

Lullabuddy

The Lullabuddy is a lullaby player & speaker that comes pre-loaded with 2 hours of Mae Robertson’s award winning lullabies and love songs — music that both parents and babies will enjoy. The super compact music player comes with a shuffle button, a one-hour timer and a mini USB cable for charging. When fully charged, it will play for up to 18 hours. The music was remastered specifically for the Lullabuddy with wonderful sound quality. The speaker is also Bluetooth enabled so that other music can be played from a mobile device. $60.

For more reviews, visit nappaawards.com

April 10, 2019 by Elena Epstein

We all want to do fun things with our kids, but sometimes coming up with the ideas is the hardest part. With these recent NAPPA Award-winners, you’ll have tons of inspiration for creative fun.

101 Kids Activities That Are the Ooey, Gooey-est Ever!

From the bestselling authors of 101 Kids Activities, 101 Coolest Simple Science Experiments and Adorkable Bubble Bath Crafts, 101 Kids Activities That Are the Ooey, Gooey-est Ever! is full of exciting and fantastical recipes that include tips on the science behind the goo, so you can learn too. Whether it’s a slime, a dough or some other moldable creation, you’ll be able to create and become whatever your imagination dreams up. $21.99, ages 6 to 12.

Awesome Edible Kids Crafts

Never before has it been more fun to play with your food! Arena Blake, founder of the blog The Nerd’s Wife, shares exciting crafts that are made out of your favorite things to eat. Awesome Edible Kids Crafts features a variety of projects, each with a difficulty rating that lets you know if you’l need a grownup’s help. All projects use safe, nontoxic ingredients to spark creativity. $21.99, ages 6 to 11 years.

Express Yourself: A Hand Lettering Workbook for Kids

Decorate your life with fun fonts and beautiful quotes made your way. In Express Yourself: A Hand Lettering Workbook for Kids, Amy Latta will show you the basics of hand lettering and beyond. Learn fancy cursive and watercolor lettering. Add adorable details like flowers and animals. In the craft bonus section, you’ll find ideas on how to turn your finished work into fabulous DIY projects. Embellish pillows, notebooks and wall art with your own unique writing. It’s easy to share your art online, and make one-of-a-kind cards and invitations for friends and family. $19.99, ages 10+

September 17, 2018 by Makenna Sievertson

The Napa Valley is well known for its sprawling wineries and luxurious adult getaways, but the region is also home to several opportunities for family-friendly adventure. Located about an hour north of the San Francisco Bay area, visitors of all ages can enjoy the famous California climate while exploring the protected natural landscapes, various restaurants, or a relaxing spa day in the mineral pools.

Outdoor Attractions

Calistoga’s Old Faithful Geyser is a definite family favorite and is one of only three “faithful” geysers in the world. Even the most restless kids will be entertained with a 350 degree spout of water erupting every half hour. The sprays of mist form spectacular rainbows, creating the perfect photo opportunity with a serene Napa landscape. While waiting for the eruption, families can stop by the Old Faithful Animal Farm, a petting zoo featuring Tennessee Fainting Goats, Jacob’s four-horn sheep, and Guard llamas.

For a little natural history lesson you can drive five minutes up the road to the Petrified Forest. Take a walk through the worlds largest petrified redwood trees that were turned to stone 3.4 million years ago by a massive volcanic explosion. The redwood trees, now extinct, have become fossils and are decorated with sparkly mineral quartz that are sure to catch your eye.

Food and Drink

Couple Tasting at The Calistoga Inn and Brewery, Calistoga, Napa Valley, California

Foodies on Foot is a pet and family accessible culinary walking tour highlighting several restaurants in Historic Downtown Napa. The 3-hour tour features 5-7 different eateries with picky eater friendly dishes like pizza and ice cream. Kids under six eat free, those between 6-12 are half price ($35), and the ticket price is $70 for everyone in between.

Many parents would be weary of bringing their children along for a wine tasting, but Castello di Amorosa has more than enough activities to keep your little knights and princesses occupied. The idyllic reproduction of a 13^th century Italian castle is near exact, with a moat, dungeon, and suits of armor available to explore. Peacocks, emus, and sheep roam the grounds and can keep the younger ones occupied while parents enjoy an authentic Tuscan wine or cheese tasting.

For something more hands on, The Culinary Institute of America at Copia offers Family Funday every Sunday for all ages and experience levels. Bring the whole family for an hour-long cooking demonstration that teaches both adults and children useful cooking tricks and kitchen skills. The courses always end with a taste of that day’s dish, so your family can learn and enjoy some culinary secrets from some of the best chefs in California.

Arts and Culture

The di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art is centered around the charming Winery Lake and features several educational programs and exhibitions for all ages. Two galleries and a walkable Sculpture Meadow highlight contemporary Bay Area artists on the sprawling 217 acres in Napa’s Carneros region. Admission is free for children 17 and under and the museum offers additional discounts for seniors, military, educators, and students.

Family Lodging

Carneros Inn Resort, Napa Valley, California

Silverado Resort and Spa ($) offers one or two bedroom suites with a full kitchen, private patio, and Wi-Fi access. While parents are enjoying a day at the spa or picking up treats at the Silverado Market and Bakery, children ages 6-12 can participate in a supervised eight-week Golf, Tennis, and Swim Camp (GTS).

At the Indian Springs Calistoga Resort ($$) you can choose between a room, cottage, bungalow, or full house for your visit. It is home to two swimming pools, including a temperature regulated Olympic sized mineral pool. The casual atmosphere is perfect for a relaxing getaway, and the amenities include several outdoor games and complimentary bikes to explore the town.

The Carneros Resort and Spa ($$$) offers several cottages with ample space for the whole family. The resort has three restaurants on-site, two pools, fitness classes, and a selection of dog-friendly amenities for your furry friend. Carneros also hosts Kids’ Night, June through September, with board games, ping-pong, and a kid-friendly movie.